The 30th Space Wing team supported the United Launch Alliance in preparing
for the launch a mere six weeks after the successful launch of the GeoEye-1
satellite in September. Normally SLC-2 crews have three to four months to
prepare for a launch.

Col. David Buck, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander for
this mission.

"People don't always think about it, but this is rocket science, and our
Airmen and industry partners make it look easy," Colonel Buck said. "I'm
blown away by the professionalism and dedication of all of Team Vandenberg."

The Delta II is an expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle. It carries civil
and commercial payloads into low-earth, polar, geosynchronous transfer and
stationary orbits. For approximately two decades, the Delta II has been a
workhorse in the world of spacelift with 134 successful launches.

The COSMO-SkyMed 3 satellite, entirely developed and produced in Italy, is
an end-to-end Earth observation dual-use (civilian and military) system
composed of four satellites and ground stations. The first two COSMO-SkyMed
satellites were launched at Vandenberg in June and December 2007.

"Once again Team Vandenberg was part of an international effort to assure
our allies a gateway to space," Colonel Buck said. "Each launch provides
unique challenges to overcome, whether it's an engineering hurdle or
language barrier. When it comes to launch night, however, Vandenberg
delivers."